In a heart-stopping opening to the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, England's Red Roses were pushed to their absolute limit by a ferocious United States side, eventually clinching a hard-fought 24-20 victory.
The highly anticipated clash lived up to its billing, delivering a spectacle of power, pace, and nerve-shredding tension that sets the tournament alight from the very first whistle.
A Battle of Attrition from the First Whistle
From the outset, the USA Eagles defied any pre-match predictions of a one-sided affair. Their defensive line was immense, repelling wave after wave of early English pressure with brutal tackling and disruptive play at the breakdown.
England, favourites heading into the match, found themselves in an unexpected arm-wrestle. The American pack matched their physicality, turning the contest into a gruelling battle for every inch of territory.
Scoreboard Pressure and Nerve-Wracking Finale
The match remained agonisingly close throughout, with the scoreboard ticking over incrementally. Each time England seemed to build a cushion, the USA struck back with a penalty or a moment of brilliance to stay within touching distance.
The final ten minutes were a masterclass in tension. Holding onto a narrow lead, England was forced to defend as if their tournament life depended on it. The USA threw everything at the Red Roses' line, but a combination of heroic defence and critical turnovers saw England weather the storm.
The final whistle brought a mixture of overwhelming relief and celebration for the English side, while the USA were left to rue what might have been, despite securing a valuable losing bonus point.
What This Means for the Tournament
This result sends a clear message to the entire World Cup: there are no easy games. England will need to significantly elevate their performance if they are to realise their dream of lifting the trophy on home soil.
For the USA, this narrow defeat, packed with courage and skill, announces them as genuine dark horses capable of challenging any team in this competition. Their performance has earned them respect and made the rest of the pool stages must-watch events.
This thrilling encounter has set a spectacularly high bar for the rest of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, promising three weeks of unmissable, world-class sporting drama.
